I am entertaining the thought of a .223 rifle and looking primarily at the savage, 9 twist seems to be the standard offering and I would prefer a 7 twist. What could I expect to get out of a factory savage 9 twist barrel or should I keep looking for a donor action and get a 7 twist CBI from Northland. I would like to get to a grand in the standard 223 and not an AI chamber. I have seen firsthand that the round is capable even with lighter bullets but the results were still in a tight twisted barrel. Long and short of it is this, can I get to a 1000 with hand loads fired from a 1-9" twist with bullets in the 70g range or less?
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.223 Savage bolt rifle question
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I just picked up a Savage model 11 Hog Hunter in .223 last week. I'm not sure about your 1,000 range though. I set mine up for coyotes and from what I'm shooting so far I'm thinking 500 max. I have 50 grn. bullets. The gun was quite surprising to me as I am a Remington guy but this one just jumped out at me. Quite a tack driver right out of the box. I have it set 1.5'' high at 100 yards, dead nuts at 200, and she drops 8'' at 300. According to the ballistics, much more than that with these light bullets is asking a bit much believe but I do not know for sure. Soon as I get some nicer weather I'll find out.
Ive shot a 223 extensively out to 800yards using bullets up 77gr. Anything past 600 is tough. 500 yds works, but beyond 600 i would not bet very much on.
.223 Savage bolt rifle question
Your Savage 1:9 will work just fine with 75 HPBT & 77 SMK/CC. Might also work with 75 Berger VLD, with 75 Amax doubtful but possible.
If you want 1000 you are definitely looking at an 8 twist or faster. Another possibility is 70gr Bergers, pushed hard though a 24-26" barrel.
I've got a 1:7 Criterion 223AI and its great with 80 Amax; ballistics to 1000 are better than most 308s though splash is nonexistent.
Your Savage 1:9 will work just fine with 75 HPBT & 77 SMK/CC. Might also work with 75 Berger VLD, with 75 Amax doubtful but possible.
If you want 1000 you are definitely looking at an 8 twist or faster. Another possibility is 70gr Bergers, pushed hard though a 24-26" barrel.
I've got a 1:7 Criterion 223AI and its great with 80 Amax; ballistics to 1000 are better than most 308s though splash is nonexistent.
I've consistently shot my DPMS Mk12 out to 750 supressed with Mk262 Mod1, Wolf Gold 75jhp, and Hornady 75grn to prove a point and dont currently have a ..223 bolt gun, but thinking about picking up a savage just for fun for my sons.
Thanks guys, I am in the process of trading for a savage 12 bvss I let go awhile back. 9 twist but it is a shooter with 69 and under pills. I was on the same wave length as BoilerUp, going to increase the weights till I see degrade in accuracy and if need be call Jim at Northland and get a 1:7 criterion.
68 Hornady, 69 SMK/Nosler CC, 75 Hornady HPBT, 77 gr. SMK/Nos CC. I've hit at 1k (10"x15") plate with all of them. It is 2500 ft ASL there though. But the bullets were doing pretty good that far.
I will say on that same range there are chicken silhouettes at 880. Oftentimes it takes more than one hit to knock them over with that rifle.
Added: 70 gr. Berger VLD's kick ass at that range
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I loaded some 69 SMKs to try tomorrow for initial load development. I traded back for a rifle I let go awhile back that I should have kept, it shot 55s into one hole at 100 but at the time was not considering the 223 for LR. Now I am thinking I would like to give it a go and let my 308 and 260 rest in the safe for a little while.I am 2400 ASL so we are close to same. It will be a few days before I try them at long range. I know the round is capable, I have witnessed multiple hits at 1000, just hoping my 1-9 will get it done. Thanks for the input.
One can order then an aftermarket quality barrel with a 1:7 twist and 24" and then enjoy the best loads the .223 has to offer at any range. The savage factory barrel will sell well unfired.
One way to do it is to start in the low end with the accurtrigger. Then add the stock and other components as needed and as you go if on a budget.
One way to do it is to start in the low end with the accurtrigger. Then add the stock and other components as needed and as you go if on a budget.
i have shot 80gr SMKs in my savage varmit... shot fine.... 75amax as well... fun on groundhogs...
Most 80gr will not stabilize. In long shots the rounds will show yaw and distorted results. Accuracy will suffer.
That is why manufactures make this very clear on their requirements. I even suggest go with the extra inch twist if one is planning
shooting approaching trans-sonic ranges. So for the 80VLDs 1:7 or 1:7.5 is ideal. Actually this is a quite popular in setups where extreme
accuracy is required from those rounds.
https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/9390/224-dia-80-gr-HPBT-MatchKing-box-of-500
http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/all-bullets/
Good point.
This guy right here is a real easy way to transform what you need out of that rifle, if the 1-9" doesn't work for the 70+ range of bullets.
http://northlandshooterssupply.com/
A number of people have had good accuracy with the 75gr A-Max from a 1:9 Savage barrel (myself included), and the 80gr SMK is 0.044" shorter than the 75gr A-Max and has a higher stability factor.
Now your are talking. The amax are a great deal will work with the 75gr that is an awesome choice.
I don't use the sierras vld. but they are very clear in their website and manuals about the required twist.
The berger however that I shoot will not properly stabilize and will show jittery trajectories at long range.
But I agree. If the OP wants to keep the factory barrel the 75gr amax value packs are hard to beat.
edit: will not stabilize the 70gr solids like tsx.
69 SMKs shot very well today, 77 VLDs ordered, now if I could find the 75 Amaxs!! Looks like this quest will be a repeat of my search for 208 Amax. I finally found 700 so maybe the 75s are out there if I look hard enough. Going to give this barrel a good run before I call Jim. I am very pleased with the CBI barrels I have run or are still running. The 1-7 is probably the rout I should go but I am going to be patient and see how the results stack up. I enjoy pushing the envelope with my rifle calibers and this endeavor is no diffrent. Thanks guys for all the replys so far.
Next question, anyone running ARComp powder in a bolt 223? I have pounds of it I use in my 308 and love it in the 5R.
Next question, anyone running ARComp powder in a bolt 223? I have pounds of it I use in my 308 and love it in the 5R.
Don'tcha just hate that....My supplies of long range .224 bullets is running a little slim. I did pick up a box of 69 gr. SMK's last week though.
the Hornady 75 HPBT ain't a bad substitute, and Midway had em in stock last I checked.
600 yds with 70 gr. Bergers is easy/consistent in my experience with a Savage 9 twist .223. though mine is an AI.
After that the consistency drops off as the yardage increases in a fairly stiff and gusty full value wind. This rifle shoots pretty well and probably averages close to a half inch at 100 yards.
Mine will shoot 75 AMAX well but I have heard of other 1/9 barrels in .223 that don't do so well. Kind of hit-and-miss it seems. I didn't see the point in trying anything heavier than that in my 1/9.
Can you do it? Maybe but why?
Better to use a caliber that will do it consistently, at least for me.
After that the consistency drops off as the yardage increases in a fairly stiff and gusty full value wind. This rifle shoots pretty well and probably averages close to a half inch at 100 yards.
Mine will shoot 75 AMAX well but I have heard of other 1/9 barrels in .223 that don't do so well. Kind of hit-and-miss it seems. I didn't see the point in trying anything heavier than that in my 1/9.
Can you do it? Maybe but why?
Better to use a caliber that will do it consistently, at least for me.
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One thing I do is load with a full case of slow powder. Usually 25.3 gr. in a 5.56 chamber and 25 gr. in a .223 chamber. That slow powder with the extra pressure will get the bullet going fast enough to always stabilize. And, it's slow enough in a standard chamber it won't over pressure in high heat.
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